Ptisana salicina

Ptisana salicina
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Division:	Polypodiophyta
Class:	Polypodiopsida
Order:	Marattiales
Family:	Marattiaceae
Genus:	Ptisana
Species:	P. salicina
Binomial name
Ptisana salicina (Sm.) Murdock
Synonyms [1]
Marattia salicinaSm. Marattia elegans Endl. Marattia calliodous de Vriese Marattia fraxinea var. salicina(Sm.) Domin Marattia stokesii E.D.Br. Marattia cincta Copel. Marattia grantiiCopel.

Ptisana salicina, or king fern, is a species of fern native to Norfolk Island, New Zealand and the South Pacific. Large and robust with a distinctive tropical appearance, it has fronds up to 5 metres (16 feet +/-) tall that arise from a starchy base that was a traditional food for the Maori. ^[2] It has several other common names including para, tawhiti-para, and horseshoe fern.

Distribution

King fern, Auckland Domain

King fern is indigenous to Norfolk Island (the type locality), New Zealand, New Caledonia, Cook Islands, Austral Islands, Society Islands and the Marquesas. ^[3] It is closely related to Ptisana smithii of Vanuatu, Fiji, the Solomon Islands, Samoa and Tonga. ^[4]

In New Zealand it is found in lowland areas on the north-western half of the North Island from inland Wanganui northwards. It is most abundant in the western Waikato, where it is found in forests and forest remnants. It prefers limestone-rich soils, including the entrances to caves and shady stream sides. It often grows in New Zealand association with parataniwha ( Elatostema rugosum ) and supplejack ( Ripogonum scandens ). ^[5]

Threats

King fern is in serious decline in New Zealand, seriously threatened throughout its range by feral and domestic cattle, wild pigs and goats. Large plants no longer exist except in areas where there has been rigorous control of animals, or in inaccessible cave entrances or steep-sided gorges in karst areas. Another serious threat comes from plant collectors who are said to have wiped out several large populations in the Kawhia district. ^[5]

Description

The green cane-like leaf stalks are 1 to 3 metres long. The young fronds are protected as they uncoil by a large ear-shaped basal lobe at the base called a stipule. The glossy, dark green fronds are 4 metres, sometimes 5 metres long and 2 metres wide. The juvenile fronds are less robust, and wilt quickly if exposed to sunlight. In the Kawhia area, a distinctive form is sometimes encountered, which has crested tips on the adult leaflets. Specimens of suitable age may produce spores at any time in the year. ^[5]

Propagation

Propagation is difficult. King fern can be grown from spores, but this is extremely slow. It is sometimes offered for sale in nurseries that specialise in native plants. ^[5]

References

1. "Ptisana salicina (Sm.) Murdock". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 24 May 2024.
2. "Māori Plant Use Database Plant Use Details of Marattia salicina". maoriplantuse.landcareresearch.co.nz. Retrieved 2021-12-30.
3. Murdock, Andrew G. (2008). "A taxonomic revision of the eusporangiate fern family Marattiaceae, with description of a new genus Ptisana" . Taxon. 57 (3): 737–755. doi:10.1002/tax.573007. ISSN   1996-8175.
4. Murdock, Andrew G.; Chen, Cheng-Wei; Huang, Yao-Moan; Glenny, David (2020-10-12). "Affinities of the fern genus Ptisana (Marattiaceae) in the Solomon Islands, with descriptions of two new species". PhytoKeys (170): 1–23. doi: 10.3897/phytokeys.170.59471 . ISSN   1314-2003. PMC   7746669 . PMID   33363432.
5. de Lange, P. J. "Ptisana salicina". New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. Retrieved 29 April 2025.